San Jose State football: Grading the week

If there is injury news out of SJSU at Dick Tomey’s 1 p.m. press conference, I’ll update here later today. (The Merc’s Elliott Almond will be there.)

I have to imagine Kalvin Cressel will be out at least a few weeks with a dislocated elbow. Not sure on the status of Brandon Rutley and Justin Willis.

Record: 0-3

Result: Lost to Stanford 42-17

Grade: D

Comment: Didn’t expect the Spartans to beat Stanford, but I did expect them to be more competitive. From Chris Owusu’s opening KOR onward, I never felt the Spartans had a chance to keep it close, much less win.

Walking out of Stanford Stadium hours after the game, I couldn’t help but wonder if the Spartans are in deep, deep trouble this season — and by that I mean 3-9/4-8 trouble.

Nobody figured SJSU would score 30 or 35 pts/game; the offense is just not good enough. But I expected the defense to be better than it is, especially the front seven, and I expected the Spartans to show more life than they have.

The missed tackles … the gaping holes for opposing running backs … not to mention the lack of a running game and the porous offensive line … there are dark clouds gathering over SJSU.

Maybe Dick Tomey will get the Spartans turned around — we’ll know a lot more after the next two games — but it does not look promising.

No 0-3 start is good, but there are varying degrees of bad and the Spartans’ 0-3 is bad.

Next up: vs. Cal Poly

Comment: Not so much a must-win game for the Spartans as it is a MUST-WIN GAME for the Spartans. And they should.

Poly lost its highly respected coach, Rich Ellerson, who’s now at Army, and just got hammered at Ohio. (Poly QB Tony Smith was 1 of 11 and had two interceptions.)

This is the week for SJSU to gain confidence and establish its running game. An emphatic victory would send the Spartans into the bye week with momentum before WAC play starts Oct. 10.

Jon Wilner

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I wish I could disagree with this, but unfortunately, Jon you are spot on with this piece. Here’s hoping we come out with a blowout win on Saturday (anything less will not be good).

http://www.SpartanThunder.com/ SJSU Fan

OK Y’all.

Gonna go out on a limb and predict the rest of this season.

Stanford- Loss- 31 to 14

Cal Poly- Loss- 21 to 17

Idaho- Win- 19 to 14

Fresno- Loss- 39 to 10

Boise- Loss 44 to 3

UNR- Loss- 28 to 10

Utah St- Win- 18 to 13

Hawaii- Loss 44-12

NMSU- Win 18-3

LA Tech- Loss 28-6

SJSU ends up with a season record of 3 wins and 9 loses.

The offense is already banged up with both top running backs hurting just after two games.

The QB situation will not improve much, as the offensive line “is what it is”.

To think that will will have an “emerging” quarterback appear like a genie from a bottle is just not realistic at this point.

Sure, LaSecla has looked the better of the two, but an inept offensive line will keep the heat on any QB that is directing this club.

The kicking game will continue to be horrible.

The defense will yet be the shining star (no surprises here), as this is all that Tomey emphasizes his focus on.

In regards to the above picks, yes it is not very “pro” Sparta, but a recent quote by Justin Cole in the Mercury News is either a calling out of his team mates, or a cry of dispair as the team may be in bigger trouble that what appears to the fans.

Did you really think the San Jose State defense played so badly? The Stanford offense only scored 21 points (the rest came from special teams and the defense) which, while not the stuff of legends, is no disgrace. The six sacks allowed by the Spartan offensive line — now THAT was a disgrace.

Leftcoast

You know Harold, the problem with scoring on special teams and defense is the rules make you kick the ball to the other team. In this case that lowered Stanfords total number of posessions and the opportunities for Stanford to score.

This time I’m with Jon -from the opening kick-off on there was never a time when the fans in the stadium felt the outcome was in question.

I agree that the Spartan O-Line will be a continuing problem as they enter conference play. That group was just manhandled by a good, but not great, Stanford front four (and sometimes front three).

MEG Hoopster

A more reasonable grade for SJS would be an F, because the Spartans are F’ed up. They’ll be fortunate to finish 3-9. This from a team that finished bowl eligible last year, and Wilner told us the trend was “stationary”. Looks like Wilner got another one wrong. This team is trending down. Tomey has never looked older and more beaten down.

Broncoboss

Meg, Can you believe it-I agree with you 100%!!! Scary when I agree with you huh?

MEG Hoopster

Stop flirting Bronco-bore. You’re not my type!

Keysclubber

San Jose State is still putting the team in the hands of the wrong QB…Once they figure that out things will get better for the Spartans.

Broncoboss

Hold on MEG H maybe we have something going..I’m anything but boring. I’m really an exciting guy and quite good looking… Don’t give up on us so quickly maybe we have a future…What do you think? Go Bears, OK?

MEG Hoopster

BB – your marital status makes you very uninteresting!

BFF,
MEG

Keysclubber

I just read an article in this morning’s Merc about SJSU’s brutal non conference schedule. The team is a bad 0-3 and have many injuries & banged up players. Surprise. Surprise. It doesn’t take a football rocket scientist to figure out that the Spartans non conference football schedule is stupid. I guess Tomey got his body bag wish? The team is down in the dumps-self confidence is probably a little low, and they don’t really know who is their best QB. Starting off the season with high hopes the Spartans take a long bus ride to LA to get their butt’s kicked by a team (USC) who is way out of their league. (not good) and-it didn’t get a lot better vs Utah & Stanford. Next year SJSU gets to go to U. of Alabama and deal with a great team & a bunch of blood thirsty rabid fans. Maybe Tomey & Bowen should re-think their non conference schedule philosophy in the near future? Hopefully some how the Spartans can win their next two games. Then look out-BSU, FSU, & Nevada.

Broncoboss

BB – your marital status makes you very uninteresting!

MEG — I’m the Broncoboss! Idaho is practically in Utah! Can’t you see that all of my wives would welcome you into our family?

Broncoboss

To Meg & whoever: I’m sure you’re well aware that I did NOT post #12…I think using someone elses name to make a comment especially a stupid one like #12 is not cool…Plus, all of you regular bloggers are also aware that this forgery did NOT include my signature digital arthritis triple dots (periods). Lets play fair! Don’t lower yourself to using someone elses name just because you’re poor pathetic human being with no brain…

DudleyDegroot

The Spartan coaching staff is in turmoil. That’s the reason for the subpar performances dating back two+ seasons. Mark my words, there will be a massive turnover at the end of the season.

Keysclubber

DudleyD, Are you saying that Dick Tomey isn’t fooling people anymore? I totally agree with your turmoil comment. It starts at the top. I do believe a little more common sense in their non conference scheduling would probably help San Jose State to get some confidence & a better self image going into WAC play.

Broncoboss

Meg, what does the BFF posted right above your name stand for…Remember, don’t tease me!!!

MostWantedSpartan

IMO-It’s like Tomey said, “We’re going to find out who we are”.

SJSU operating on a shoestring budget, low scouting scores and under APR sanctions not shocking the world is not that big of a surprise. From the outside those may just be excuses but if it’s the truth then at least we can be happy that at least we live in the truth and be consoled that the APR situation is almost cleared up, etc..

Go Spartans!

~MWS

http://www.SpartanThunder.com/ SJSU Fan

Here are the “facts” about where the SJSU football team started, and where they are today.

Why don’t you find out why a former SJS head coach was at the SJS-Stanford game Saturday night, wearing a field pass, standing behind the Spartan bench. Word is that D.R. was there to observe the SJS football team and offer his insights to AD Tom Bowen. Is Tomey on the way out?
Inquiring minds want to know.